Loading appliance for guns.



No.v70,s20. IPATENTBD sEPT-.z0,1904.

- c. P. B. SCHNEIDER.

LOADING APPLIANCE FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED 11.39. 1903.

10 sn'nn'rs snnm 1.

N0 MODEL.

:- No. 770,320; PATENTED.-SEPT'.20,'1904. i

' c. P. E. SCHNEIDER. LOADING APPLIANCE FOR arms.

APPLICATION FILED A'PR. 30. 1903 I g 10 snnnTs-snnn'i 2.

N0 MODEL.

No. 770,320. PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

C. P. E. SCHNEIDER. I LOADING APPLIANCE FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION I'ILE D APR. 30. 1903.

N0 MODELI' 10 8HEETB SHE BT a.

I I I ffliiijiiiiiiiij 'i -LJ L.

(5'! y k Q It No. 770,320. 7 BATENTBD SEPT. 20, 1904.

' 0; P. E. SCHNEIDER.

LOADING APPLIANCE FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. so, 1903. N0 MODEL.

No.770,320. I V PATENTED'SBPT.-20,1904. c P. E SCHNEIDER.

LOADING APPLIANCE FOR GUNS.

APPLIOATIONTILEIDAPR-30.1903.-

v 1o snnnws slnmrs;

no 140mm.

No. 770,320. 7 V

G. P. E. SCHNEIDER.

'PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

No. 7.70,320. PATENTEDISIEPT. 20, 1904.

c. P.- E. SCHNEIDER.

LOADING APPLIANCE FOR GUNS.

APPLIUATION'IILED APR. 30. 1903. N0 MODEL. 10 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

liming;

-No.77o,sz0f PATENTBD SEPT. 20, 1904.

c. P. E. SCHNEIDER. LOADING APPLIANCE FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30. 1903.

N0 MODEL. I 10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

No. 270.320 I 0. P'. E. SCHNEIDER.

LOADING APPLIANCE FOR GUNS.

APPLIGATIOKFILBD APR. 30. 1903.

N0 MODEL. 1o SHEETS-SHEET 9.

p q c 104i I" v W PATBNTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

G. P. E. SCHNEIDER.

LOADING APPLIANCE FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION IILLD APR. 30. 1903. N0 MODEL. I 10 SHEETS -SHEET 10.

IA-TENTED SEPT. 20, 1904,.

NfiiE STATES Patented September 20, 1904.

ATENT OFFICE.

LOADING APPLIANCE FOR GUNS.. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 770,320, da d Sep m er 20, 1904. Application filed April 30, 1903. Serial No. 155,082. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES PRosPER EU- GENE SCHNEIDER, of'Le Creusot, Saoneet- Loire, in theRepublic of France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Loading Appliances for Guns;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a-device suitable for ordnance of all kinds and in which the recoil of the gun is utilized not only for returning the gun to battery, but also for automatically effecting the following operations: first, opening the breech; second, bringing the charge or ammunition arranged upona carrier to the rear of and in alinement with the gun without altering the position of the latter; third, introducing the complete charge of ammunition into the gun in a single operation; fourth, withdrawing the ammunitioncarrier from the rear of the gun and conducting it to a predetermined waiting position; fifth, closing the breech; sixth, maintaining all the parts in their respective positions whatever may be the angle at which the gun is trained or the successiveinclination's assumed by the platform.

Two constructional forms of this device applied to two diiferent types of breech are hereinafter described.

The devicebeing applicable to gun-breeches of all types, I have chosen as the two constructional forms (givenby way of example, as above mentioned) types of breech to which all those at present known may be assimilated. First, the type of breech with concentric fillets may be considered as a wedge closing device, the radius of which instead of being infinite will be very small; second, the type of screw-breech proceeding from all the models,

with a block which is screw-threaded or provided with sectors,hollowed or not, cylindrical, stepped, or conical. The first constructional form therefore constitutes an automatic loading appliance which is operative in all positions of vertical and lateral pointing and which is intended for guns provided with concentrio-fillet .breeches.

Figures 1, 1" are longitudinal sections show- '1 ing the gun returned to battery, the rammer f withdrawn, and the ammunition-carrier lying axially with respect to the gun. are plans corresponding to-Fig. l. are plans showing the gun in rammer-cylinder at the end of its advance movement. Figs. 4., t are elevations showing the gun in battery and'the rammer-cylinder at the recoil. 5, 5 are plans showing the gun ready for firing. 5 Fig. 6 is a crosssection through the axis of the trunnions on the line A B of Fig. 4.. Fig. 7 is a rear view of the gun-carriage with the parts in position 5 for firing, said View being partly in section on the line C D of Fig. 5. Figs. 8, 8 are horizontal sections through the axis of the recoilcylinders. Fig. 9 is a cross-section on the line E F of Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a cross-section on 7 the line G H of Fig. 3. Fig. 11 is a rear view showing the attachment of the piston-rods and the guide for the breech-lever hereinafter described. Figs. 12, 12 are plans of the said guide on a larger scale. Fig. 13 is a section on the line 0 P of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a section on the line I J of Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a section on the line K L'of Fig. 12. Fig. 16 is a section on the line M N of Fig. 12. Fig. 17 is a. plan of the front of the guide for the breech-lever, showing the closedbreech in broken lines. Fig. 18 is a detail view of the rammer. Fig. .19 is a vertical section showing the bolt of the ammunition-carrier and its support.

In gun-carriages as hitherto constructed the loading of the gun is generally performed while this latter .is in a predetermined posi- 'tion, which is approximately horizontal. The

breech is then open. The ammunition is in- 9 troduced into the bore either by hand or by v Figs. 2, 2 5 5i Figs.3',3 battery and the pointing of the gun and even during sightwhile the other, rendered independent at a certain moment, is retained at the position of recoil while the gun returns to battery. The

first-mentioned cylinder, rigidly connected to the gun, absorbs during the recoil a large part of the 02's rim of the movable system and compresses in.a reservoir air which in expanding will return the gun to battery iminediately the recoil is finished. Thesecond cylinder carries the rammer. I t is rigid with the gun during the recoil only. The rammercylinder compresses also during the recoil air in a reservoir in such a manner as to store up the power necessary for inserting the ammunition into the gun. The breech is opened automatically at the commencement of the return of the gun to battery and closed also automatically, but only at the termination of the return of the rammer-cylinder. The system comprises the ammunition -carrier; mounted upon two levers displaceable around vertical shafts and arranged upon the side of the eradle. The ammunition-carrier is acted upon by a spring which constantly tends to bring it behind the gun; but it can only assume this position when the gun has returned to battery. When the gun has completed its return to vbattery, the ammunition-carrier is brought by its spring behind the gun. At the termination of this movement the rammer-cylinder is released automatically and then in returning to battery introduces the ammunition into the bore. ,Safety mechanism insures eificient operation and prevents any premature operation of the different parts.

The gun a recoils in guides fixed on a cradle 6, formed by two parallel cheeks'connected by means of cross-stays. Each cheek carries a hollow trunnion 0, closed by a plug (Z, provided with an air-charging pipe. The trunnions 0, independent of each other, constitute two air-recuperators. The right-hand trunnion communicateswith the rod of the piston 10 of the rammer-cylinder q, while the lefthand trunnion communicates with the rod 11. of the brake-cylinder m. The brake-cylinder, Figs. 8, 8, is arranged beneath the gun and connected rigidly with'it. It carries at its lower portion a stop 1, Figs. 7 and 9. The rammercylinder q, Fig. 6, is guided by a guid'eway2, fixed upon the right-hand cheek. Said cylinder is-caused to recoil by a heel 3,

Fig. 2, against which strikes the rear face of the gun. At the end of the recoil the rammer-cylinder q is retained by the spring-pawl '0, Figs. 2, 3, and 5 fixed upon the cradle and engaging with the rack u, carried by the said cylinder q, Fig. 2. The rammer-cylinder g' carries at its rear lower portion another heel It carries withit in its recoil movement t wo brake-cylinders, one of which is rigidly connected to the gun,.

4:, having an inclined surface and a straight portion parallel with the axis of the gun. The piston-rods p and 11 of the brake-cylinder and the rammer-cylinder are fixed at the front and rear upon the cradle 7). They communicate, by means of the conduits t and 0 and the pipes -r and f, with the hollow trunnions c and left of the median position, but always tends to resume this median position under the action of the pusher (a.

-- The gun is furnished with a breech-block having concentric fillets 11., which block turns around a vertical shaft 2', the lower portion of which carries a stop in and a spring-roller 5, Figs. 12 to 17. This roller is movable vertic'ally with its shaft in a recess formed in the shaft '1,- of the breech-block. The operatingguide 7 for the breech-block'is fixe'd upon the cradle 6 and is provided in front with an inclined surface 8, Fig. 14, and at the rear with two other inclined surfaces 9 and 10, Fig. 13.

The ammunition-carrier 11 is mounted upon two levers l2 and 13, movable around verticalshafts' carried by the supports 14: and 15, fixed upon the sides'of the cradle 72. The lever 13 is connected to the ammunition-carrier by a spring shaft or bolt 16, Fig. 19, which at the proper time prevents any rotary movement of the lever. A spring 17, one extremity of which is fixed to the cradle and the other to the lever 12, constantly tends to bring the ammunition carrier behind the gun.

9 Upon the same shaft that carries the lever 13 and at the lower portion thereof is keyed a short lever 18, which actuates a rod 19, slid ing transversely in the cradle. The rod 19 carries two rollers 20 and 21, which respectively come into contact with the stop 1 and the heel 4., carried by the cylinders.

Assuming that the gun is ready for firing and that the parts occupy the position represented in Figs. 5, 5, then at the moment of firing the gun recoils, carrying with it the cylinders m and Q and forcing into the recuperators c a certain quantity of liquid owing to the differences of diameter between the'front and rear portions of the rods ;0 and 12'. During the recoil movement the spring-roller Z travels upon the straight side of the guide 7 and ,maintains the breech closed. At the end of the recoil the roller l is lifted bythe inclined surface 9 and leaves the guide. At this momentthe breech will be closed, but afterward opened by the guide 10.

Figs. 12, 12 showin broken lines the breech- -block in the different positions which it may assume successively during the recoil of the gun and its return to battery.

During the whole of the recoil the ammunition-carrier 11 is maintained at the side of the cradle b by the rollers 20 and 21 and the rod 19, which prevent'any movement of this rod, and consequently of the carrier, owing to the successive contact of the roller 21 upon the straight portion of the heel 4 during the first part of the recoil and of the roller 20 upon the stop 1 during the last part.- The recoil having finished, the rammer-cylinder q is engaged by the spring-pawl 7), which engages with the teeth of the rack u. The rammercylinder is then maintained at the recoil.

' Under the influence of the air compressed in the left-hand trunnion the brake-cylinder is returned to battery, carrying with it the' gun and the breech. At the commencement of this movement the spring-rollerl of the breech-block shaft 71 encounters the inclined surface 10 upon the rear of the guide 7 asindicated in broken lines in Fig, 13. 'The movement of translation of the gun causes the roller 1- to pass to the left-hand side of the guide 7, thus -effecting the opening of breech, as indicated in broken lines of Fig. 12.

Throughout the whole duration of the return to battery of the gun the roller Z is in con-.

tact with the left-hand side of the guide. Consequently during the return to battery the breech cannot be closed.

The rammer, which is maintained in an inclined position at the left hand by the breech during the recoil, resumes its median position under the action of the spring-pusher e at the commencement of the return of the gun to battery.

The ammunition-carrier 11 isv still maintained at the side of the cradle bduring the greaterportion of-thereturn travel of the gun to battery by the roller 20 and the stop 1. 7 Upon the termination of the returnof the gun to battery, the roller 20 being no longer in contact with the stop 1, the carrier 11', actuated by the spring 17 is brought into a position behind the gun. Nevertheless this movement can only take place if the ammunition is placed upon the said carrier. Should the carrier be empty, the shaft 16 of the lever 13 locks, under the action of its spring, the said lever and the carrierl-l and prevents any movement of rotation thereof. (See Fig. 19.)

When the ammunition is in of the ammunition, and the carrier is able to move under the action of the spring 17 and come behind the gun.

While the carrier is moving into position behind the gun the ammunition comes into contact laterally with the rammer as and causes it to rock toward the right until the ammunition lies axially with respect to the gun and is partly introduced into the bore.

mi film-llmovement of the carrier.

' of the shaft 2' of the the r the roller Z passes from the position on the carrier,'the shaft 16 is depressed by the weight At this returned to its median axially with respect to moment and under the pusher e the rammer is position-that is to say,

' the gun- The rod'lQ, connected to the ammunitioncarrier by the levers 18 and 13, becomes displaced to the right simultaneously with the At the end of its travel the rod 19 bears upon the spring-pawl '0 and releases'it from the rack At this moment the rammer-cylinder q, being no longer maintained, returns to battery under the action of the compressed air hand trunnion. During this move ammunition acted uponbythe rammer a: is

cut the introduced into the gun. Toward the end of the return of the rammer-cylinder q to battery the inclined portion of the heel 4,: carried by the said cylinder, encounters the roller 21 of the rod 19 and causes the latter to move toward the left, and consequently returns the carrier to the side of the' cradle, placing the spring 17 in tension. 1n completing its return movement to battery the rammer-cylinder (1 brings the heel 3 into contact with the stop breech-block and effects- During this movement right,side'of the guide, traversing the inclined plane 8, Fig 14:, and the rammer is displaced to-the left by the breech-block. The gun is then again ready the closing thereof.

for firing, the breech is maintained closed, and

the carrier is retained at the side of the cradle ready for the reception of a fresh charge.

- The drawings show only the gun, its sleeve, and the loading mechanism. The whole thus constituted may be mounted indifferently upon land or sea gun carriages or mountings, whatever the special arrangement of the rotating platform of the said. carriages or mountings ma y be. Figs. 20 to 29 represent a second constructional form of the invention constituting an automatic loading appliance for all positions of pointing, whether vertical or lateral, for guns provided with screw-breeches. In this arrangement the gun recoils in a cradle which ismo vable about trunnions and carries two brake-cylinders, one rigidly fixed to the gun and the other capable of being rendered independent of it at a given moment and of remaining at the recoil while the gun returns to battery. This latter cylinder carries and operates the breech-screw and is for this reason 'called the breech-cylinder. An ammunition-carrier, mounted upon two' levers movable about vertical shafts, is placed at the. side of the cradle. Under the action of a spring said carrier comes behind the gun when the latter returns to battery. As the ammunition-carrier reaches the loading position it releases thebreech-cylinder from the device by which it is maintained at the recoil. The breech-screw, arranged behind the ammunition, carries the latter forward with it,

contained in the right- ITO IOv

' recuperators.

22, 22 are plans corresponding to Figs. 21,

21". Fig. 23 represents a plan of the gun ready for firing, with the carrier moved aside.

Fig. 24; represents the gun in the position of recoil, with the breech closed. Fig. 25 is a cross-section on the line A B of Fig. 21. Fig. 26 is a rear view of the gun-carriage corresponding to Figs. 23 and 24. Fig. 27 is a horizontal section through the axis of the brake-cylinders. Fig. 28 is a horizontal section of the breech-screw on the line C D of Fig. 26. Fig. 29 is avertical section through the axis of the lever k, supporting the ammunition-carrier.

. The gun a recoils in guides on acradle 5, formed by two parallel cheeks connected by two cross-stays. Each cheek carries a hollow trunnion 0, closed by a plug 0?, provided with an air-charging pipe. The two trunnions, which are completely independent, serve as The right-hand trunnion in sures the return to battery of the breech-cylinder, while the left-hand trunnion effects the return-to battery of the gun and the brakecylinder 0. The said brake-cylinder 0 is placed beneath the gun at the left-hand side and is fixed rigidly thereto. The piston-rod 9, Figs. 22 and 23, is fixed and maintained in two supports arranged one in front of the other at the rear of the cradle. The diameter of the rear portion is greater than the diameter of the front portion. .The conduit cl, formed in the front portion of the rod 9, leads to the rear of the piston. A pipe 10 places the lefthand trunnion in communication with this piston-rod; At the recoil, owing to the dif ference of diameters of the front and rear parts of rod g, a certain'quantity of liquid is forced into the trunnion and compresses the .air. At one side of the brake-cylinder 0 is a rib g, having its rear end formed-with a circular chamfer 1, Figs. 22, 23, and 24.

The breechcylinder f, arranged below the rightahand side of the gun, is movable with the said gun during recoil only. The piston-rod 2 is similar to the rod 9 and communicates with the right-hand trunnion by means of .the

pipe 3. A-heel h, Figs. 22 to 25, having an inclined front end, is provided on the breechcylinder f, which is furnished with a rack i and is guided in its recoil movement'by a v the gun.

.the ammunition-carrier j.

guideway formed in the right-hand cheek of the cradle. The breech-screw e is supported by an arm arranged at the rear of the breechcylinder. The said breech-screw terminates in a quick-threaded screw 4, Fig. 28, engaging with a nut formed upon the arm. A spring tappet or bolt 5, housed in the nut, is adapted to engage with the breech-screwand prevent its rotation at the proper times. Screwthreaded segments on the breech-screw permit of its being locked to the breech-chamber of Two extractors 6 engage with the base of the cartridge-case when the gun returns to battery and extract said case out of the gun, so that it may be removed by hand.

The ammunition rests upon the carrier 7',

which is provided at the rear with a retaining bolt 7 and in front with ashot-guide 8-, which is movable about a horizontal shaft and serves to protect the screw-threads of the breech. Two levers l; and l, displaceable, respectively, around fixed shafts m and n, support the carrier by their articulated extremities 9 and 10. The articulation of the lever K; is locked by a' spring-bolt 11, Fig. 29, which is liberated only when the ammunition is upon the carrier. The latter can therefore only come behind the gun when it is provided with ammunition. The said lever is is keyed upon a supportingshaft 112.. It carries at its lower portion and approximately midway of its length a horizontal roller r, which actuates one of the arms of a double lever u, movable about a fixed support The other arm of the double lever is in the form of a pawl 14 and is capable of engaging 'with the teeth of the rack '5 under the action of a torsion-spring arranged in the support :12. Upon the shaft carrying the'lever Z: are also keyed two short levers s and t. The lever s is provided with a roller situated in the same plane as the rib g. The other lever, 25, is actuated by aspring a), which constantly tends to bring the lever k, and consequently the ammunition carrier j, behind the gun.

The lever Z is keyed upon the shaft of the fixed support 11. At the lower portionof this shaft and also keyed upon it is a short arm 3 connected to a parallel arm .2 by means of a connecting-rod l2, placed beneath the cradle.

The arm 2 is loose upon the shaft of the support 00 and entirely independent of the double lever u. It carries at its extremity a roller 13, situated in the same plane as the heel lb.

Assuming the parts to occupy the position represented in Fig- 23 and the gun ready for firing, then when the gun is fired it recoils, carrying with it the cylinders 0 and f. The roller 13, hearing against-the heel it, maintains the rigidly-connected levers y and Z in the position indicated in this figure and locks Any movement of the latter is rendered impossible during the recoil by the fact that the heel it and the rib q'are arranged in such a manner that the roller of the lever 3 comes into contact with h. At the end of the recoil the pawl 14 of the double lever u, actuated by its torsionspring, engages with the teeth of the rack i and locks the breech-cylinder f. Fig. 24 shows the position of the parts at this time. Under the influence of the compressed air in the left-hand trunnion the brake-cylinder 0 returns to battery with the gun, while the breech-cylinder f is locked by the pawl 14. The breech-screw e is angularly displaced by means of its rear screw-threaded portion {1, and thereby disengaged from the screwthreaded segments of the gun. The nut formed in the arm of the breech-cylinder being fixed, the rear screw 4 is caused to rotate. This rotation angularly displaces the breechscrew 0 and causes it to bring its screwthreaded segments in the spaces between the screw-threadedsegments of the gun. At this moment the gun continues its travel alone without the. breech-screw. The rotation of the breech-screw brings the recess formed therein opposite the bolt':"), Fig. 28, which then enters the said recess and prevents the breech-screw from rotating. During the first portion of the return to battery of the brake-cylinder 0 the rib g locks the lever 8 until the circular chamfer 1 comes opposite the roller of the lever s, which at this moment becomes free. The spring 4; actuates the lever 2., which displaces the lever k, and the ammunition-carrier jmoves into position behind the gun. At the end of this movement the roller 1- operates the double lever u, releases the pawl 14, and permits the cylinder f to return to battery under the influence of the compressed air in the right-hand trunnion. This return to battery can therefore only take place if the ammunition-carrier is in the loading position. Fig. 22 indicates the position of the partsat this time. The breechscrew 6 in its forward movement disengages the retaining-bolt 7 pushes the base of the cartridge-case in a forward direction, and introduces the latter into the gun. At the end of this.

movement the front inclined surface of theheel it strikes the roller 13 of the lever 2, which dis places the connecting-rod 12 and the levers y and Z and returns to one side the ammunitioncarrier 7', which remains locked by the roller 13 bearing against the heel it. The breechscrew enters the breech-chamber of the gun, with its threaded segments in the spaces between the threaded segments of said breechchamber, and is arrested by the base of the cartridge-case, which has reached its firing position. The bolt 5, bearing against the rear face of the gun, releases the breech-screw e and renders the latter capable of turning. The breech-screw a being thus arrested, the breech-cylinder continues its movement for a short distance. The nut of the screw 4 not being able to rotate turns and causes the breech-screw to engage with the threads of the breech-chamber. The parts thus assume the position shown in Fig. 23, and the gun is then ready for firing. 7

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a gun-loading apparatus, the combination of a gun and its carriage, with two brakecy-linders one of which is connected to the gun and returns the same to battery after recoil, and the other of which reciprocates on thecarriage independent'of the gun, ammunition-advancing means actuated by said lastnamed cylinder and releasing means for said cylinder restrained by the first-named cylinder while the gun returns to battery.

2. In a gunloading apparatus, the combination of a gun, two brake-cylinders moving rearward with the gun, power-storing means connected to said cylinders, connections between one of said cylinders and the gun whereby the latter is returned to battery, ammunition-advancing means operatively connected to the other cylinder, and releasing means for the latter cylinder restrained by the first brakecylinder while the gun returns to battery.

'3. The combination of a gun, a "carriage therefor, a recoil-cylinder carried by thegun, a second recoil-cylinder carried by and reciprocating on the carriage, power-storing means connected to said cylinders, an engagement between said gun and second cylinder, whereby the cylinder is moved rearward by the gun on its recoil, means retaining said cylinder inits rearward position when the gun returns to battery, means actuated by the second cylinder to advance ammunition into the gun and releasing means for said second cylinder restrained by the first cylinder while the gun returns to battery.

4. In a gun-loading apparatus, the combination of a gun and its carriage, with two brakecylinders one of which is connected to the gun and returns the same to battery after recoil, and the other of which reciprocates on the carriage independent of the gun, an ammunitioncarrier movable into and out of position behind the gun, ammunition-advan'cing means actuated by the last-named cylinder, and releasing means for the latter cylinder restrained by the first-named cylinder while the gun returns to battery.

5. In a gun-loading apparatus, the combination of a gun, two brake-cylinders moving rearward with the gun, power-storing means connected to said cylinders, connections between one of said cylinders and the gun, whereby the latter is returned to battery, an ammunition-carrier movable into and out of position behind the gun, ammunition-advancing means connected to the other cylinder, a

device normally retaining said last-named cylinder in its rearward pos1t1on,'and releasing leasing means forthe second-named cylindermeans for said device engaging said first cylinder and actuated by the ammunition-carrier as it moves into position behind the gun. 6. The combination of a gun, and its breechblock, with two brake-cylinders moving rearwardly with the gun one of which is connected to the gun and returns it to battery, automatic breech-block-opening devices operating as the gun returns to battery, a second brakecylinder moving forward after the gun 1s 1n battery, and ammunition-advancing means and breech-block-locking devices both oper ated by said last-named cylinder.

7. In a gun-loading apparatus, the combination of the gun, two brake-cylinders resisting the recoil of the gun, separate power-storing means connected to each cylinder, devices for advancing ammunition into the gun, connections between one of said cylinders and the gun whereby the gun is returned to battery, connections between the other cylinder and the ammunitionadvancing devices, and rerestrained by the first cylinder while the gun returns to battery. I

8. In a gun-loading apparatus, the combination of the gun, two brake-cylinders resisting the recoil of the gun, separate power-storing means connected to each cylinder, an ammunition-carrier automatically movable into position behind the gun, retaining devices one of which is released by the weight of the charge and normally holding the carrierat,

one side of the gun-breech, and the other carried by a brake-cylinder and holding the-carrier at one side during recoil and return devices for. advancing ammunition into the gun,

connections between one of said cylinders and the gun whereby the gun is returned to battery, and connections between the other cylinder and the ammunition-advancing devices whereby the gun is loaded.

9. In a gun-loading, apparatus, the combination of a gun and its carriage, a' brake-cylinder fast to the gun for returning the same to battery, a rammer-cylinder detachably connected to the gun and moving with the same during recoil, means for retaining the rammer-cylinder in its rearward position when' nation of a gun and itscarriage, a-brakecyl' inder fast to the gun for returning the same to battery, a rammer-cylinder detachably connected to the gun and moving with the same during recoil, means for retaining the rammer-cylinder in its rearward positionwhen the gun returns to battery, automatic breechplug-withdrawing means operative when the gun is at the end of its recoil, means restrained by the brake-cylinder while'the gun returns tosbattery for releasing therammencylinder, means .for locking the breech-plug, and means on the rammer-cylinder for actuating said locking means. r

11. In a gun-loading apparatus, the combi nation of a gun and its carriage, a brake-cylinder fast to the gun for returning the same to battery, a rammer-cylinder detachably connected with the gun and moving with the gun during recoil, means for retaining the rammer-cylinder in its rearwardkz position when the gun returns to battery,-a rammer carried by said rammer-cylinder, a spring-actuated ammunition-carrier normally tending to a position in rear of the gun, a stop on the brakecylinder for restraining the movement of the carrier during recoil and return to'battery, and means actuated by the carrier for releasing the rammer cylinder whereby the rammer advances the ammunition into the gun.

12. In a gun-loading apparatus,'the combination of a gun and its carriage,-a brake-cylinder attachedto the gun and movable with it to return the same to battery, an ammunition-carrier, 'pivotally-supported arms for the same, a spring-normally tending to move the carrier into an axial line behind the gun, a rod connected to one of thesupportingrlevers,

and a stop on the brake-cylinder engaging said ro'd whereby the ammunition-carrier is retained in its position at the side and rear of the gun during recoil and return of the gun to battery.

' 13. In a gun-loading apparatus, the combination of a gun and its carriage, a brake-cylinder fast to the gun, a rammer-cylinder detachably connected to the gun and moving with the same during recoil, means for retaining the rammer-cylinder in its rearward position, an ammunition-carrier, levers suitably pivoted for supporting the said carrier, a spring normally tending to move-said carrier into an axial line behind the gun, a stop on the brakecylinder, for restraining the said spring during recoil and return of the gun to battery, a releasing-rod for the rammer-cylinder actuated by the ammunition-carrier and a camprojection on the rammer-cylinder for engaging said rod to return the said carrier to a position at the side and rear of the gun.

14. In a gun-loading apparatus, the combination of a gunand its carriage, a brake-cylinder attached to the gun and movable with it'to return the same to battery, an ammunition-carrier, pivotally-supported arms for the same, a spring normally tending to move the carrier into an axial line behind the gun, a

rod connected to one of the supporting-levers, In witness whereof I have hereunto set my a stop on the brake-cylinder engaging said hand in presenceof two witnesses. rod to restrain said spring during recoil and return of the gun to battery, and a retaining CHARLES PROSPER EUGENE SCHNEIDER 5 device released by the Weight of the charge Witnesses:

and normally holding the carrier at one side EDMOND BLAISE,

of the gun-breech. J EAN GAMET. 

